Great looking engine. Like the way you have your fuel lines setup. I have a vintage fuel block that I want to use on mine.

 

Sigh!

A lot of different kind of motors have been made, but even after all these years, it is still hard to beat the looks of a clean Y Block.

Thanks for sharing that eye candy.

 

Thanks Guys, now can you help me convince my wife that it is worth all the time and effort. Ha,ha
I agree that Y-blocks are one of the prettiest engines ever made...

 

The rap on Offenhauser intakes is that they are single plane intakes. I had one for a while, but as Mike said, I bought it unknowing and I sold if after I got an early Edelbrock 3x2 (553?).

The Offenhauser looked like they had originally designed a 180 but then took out the chamber dividers when it went into production. The problem with the idea of a 360 degree Y-block intake is that the lower ports will get enriched mixtures. I'll bet if y-blockhead reads his plugs, he'll find four are rich/sooty and four are lean/tan.

If/when I finish my 3x2 setup (using Ford 94's), I'll be sure to get the manifold heat system working to help ensure adequate vaporization of the fuel.

 

Paul, Not sure I follow what your saying as my EDELBROCK manifold is a 180 (or dual plane) not a 360 (or single plane). I think you would lose that bet... haha. And yes the manifold crossover is open if that was what your referring to by heat system?

 

Oops. My bad. I thought I saw an Offenhauser intake in that picture.

 

Isnt the center carb a problem on the Offenhauser? Where does it go (A/F mixture)? Seems like a person would be better off to run two carbs instead of three or one center dumby. But even then there is that large plenum volume. Someone once commented that a backfire with an Offy on top could be interesting. What do you think Wild Bunch?

(How've you been PC)

 

So, Paul, What did I win?

 

It looks like the Offenhauser intake is good for about 250hp in stock form. That's more than your engine came with. If it's still on the table, don't hesitate to grab it. It does appear to be the worst of the 3-2 manifolds, though.

3X2 Intake Manifold Testing - Results.

 

Ted's results are very interesting and helpful. It looks like the Offy does have some value in the performance area, though not as much as even the stock 4V B manifold. Granted the B doesnt have the nostalgia value as 3X2s.

Ted ran some other dyno tests, and in one report had 1.43 and 1.54 rockers compared in terms of HP. I was real surprised that the 1.54s only gave a 3 HP increase.

 

What is interesting to me about this test is that it confirms that old Popular Hotrodding build up of a 312 done by Ollie Morris at Offenhauser: That engine, with an Offenhauser 3x2, made 258 hp.

 

Wow, Des Ja Vous (French class was 40 years ago) .

 

Yes, and so was the test -- well, almost, it was done in 1971.

 

It doesn't matter what engine a 3 X 2 set up is on or being discussed about being on. Most folks don't have carburetor savvy, so they have trouble dialing them in, can't do it and then claim that three two's are no good.

If you have plenty of carb savvy AND you have the patience and time for the project, you can dial them in. The ideal is to have progressive linkage and use a choked carb with slightly larger throttle bore for the center carburetor. Leave the outer two carb linkages disconnected while you dial in the center carb, THEN attack the outer two.

My $0.02,

 

Good advice... And get a uni-sync.